William E. Aubuchon Jr.

William E. Aubuchon, Jr., 91, of 22 Atlantic Avenue, Fitchburg, MA died Monday, November 26th. He was born August 13, 1916 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, the eldest son of William E. and Corinne (Charron) Aubuchon.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Camille (Corriveau) Aubuchon, two sons, three daughters, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

He graduated from Assumption Preparatory School in 1934 and Assumption College in 1938. Directly following Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the US Army where he served in the Signal Intelligence Corps, stationed in Australia and the Philippines.

In 1938 Mr. Aubuchon joined the W.E. Aubuchon Co., Inc the largest privately owned chain of hardware stores in the country started by his father in 1908. He served as President from 1950 to 1993. At the time of his death he was an honorary director of the company. During his leadership as President the company enjoyed remarkable growth - 43 years of continuous profitability, store expansion from 33 to 136 stores, oversaw its entry into the Maine, New York and Connecticut markets. He was ahead of his time in the retail industry by providing a wide variety of employee benefits. He was so proud of having provided employment for thousands of New Englanders. He was the President of Aubuchon Realty Company, Inc. from 1950-1993.

Mr. Aubuchon served on the board of Shawmut Bank and its predecessor institutions, Worcester Bank Corp and Worcester County National Bank. He was a Director of the First Safety Fund Bank; President and Chairman of the Board of the I-C Credit Union; and president of the National Supply Association of the US.

Mr. Aubuchon gave extraordinarily of his time to civic and religious causes, serving 12 years on the Assumption College Board of Trustees and was its first lay chairman. Named in 1965 by Governor John Volpe to the first Board of Trustees of the Massachusetts State College System In recognition of his service he was awarded honorary degrees from Fitchburg State and Worcester State Colleges and at Fitchburg State College where a dormitory building was named in his honor.

A man of great Catholic faith, he became a Knight in the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in 1983, participating in the Order's annual pilgrimage to Lourdes 8 times. He was invested in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher in 1984 where he was elevated to Knight Grand Cross. He was a charter member of the Serra Club of North Worcester County; and a Eucharistic Minister at the Highlands Long Term Care Center.

Mr. Aubuchon was very committed to the city of Fitchburg serving on the Board of Trustees of the Burbank Hospital 1973-1993; Trustee of the George Wallace Civic Center; Director of the YMCA; President of the United Fund.

In 1982 he was a founder of the French Institute at Assumption College, where an award in his name was established in 1995. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the W. E. Aubuchon Fund at the French Institute, Assumption College, 500 Salisbury St., Worcester, MA. 01609.

The wake, Friday November 30th, will be at The Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd., Fitchburg, MA, 01420 from 1:00-4:00 PM and 6:00-9:00 PM. The Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, December 1st at 11:00 am at Immaculate Conception Church 59 Walnut St., Fitchburg, MA 01420.